11/4/11
- Combat
Training Aids, LLC. specializes in providing inert training weapons
and aids to military and law enforcement agencies. Their products are
designed to reproduce the correct size, shape and weight of real firearms,
munitions and explosive devices.

Combat Training Aids is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business,
and produces a wide variety of inert training products, ranging from
handguns and rifles to explosives, munitions, rocket launchers and 3D
terrain maps. Instead of casting the weapon replicas from slilicone
molds, all CTA's replicas are made from solid aluminum tooling, with
high compression molding, and high temperature curing. This process
ensures crispness and results in a cleaner, more durable replica with
each cast. The aluminum molds are designed in 3D CADD and CNC machined.
Instead of making exact replicas of the weapons, some non-essential
details are eliminated to reduce costs and allow CTA to focus on durability,
weight, usability.

Another thing that sets CTA's rifles apart from just rubber ducks or
blue guns is that they're manufactured out of urethane with steel barrels
and collapsable stocks, instead of either closed or open stocks. They
allow the user to configure the weapon to suit his purpose. Custom manufacturer's
logos can be molded into the weapons. They can be molded in blue, OD
green, red, yellow, black or desert tan.

Glock 17 - CTA offers
a selection of the more popular pistol
models, like the Glock, M9, 1911, P226 and PPK. As I own a G17,
I picked the G17-WT,
which is the weighted version. It weighs 2 lbs, which closely approximates
the weight of a fully loaded Glock 17. As you can see from the photos,
the G17-WT is not an exact cast of a G17 - it's a slightly simplifed
replica. The external dimensions are correct; it will fit into holsters
made for the G17. In the photo below, I have it in my G-code/Eagle holster.
'Combat Training Aids' in large letters is molded into the left side
of the slide. My X300 was tight on the rail on the frame, but then I
had it adjusted to fit tight on my rifle's rail. Just for fun, I installed
an MRDS on the replica to practice acquiring the red dot when presenting
the pistol from a holster. I drilled right into the urethane, and used
the screws that came with the MRDS. I could use my real Glock, but with
the training aid, there's absolutely NO chance of an accidental or negligent
discharge happening.

Glock 17

Modified 17 for comparison

In holster

With MRDS installed

M4-FLR - The rifle shown
here is the M4-FLR,
which is an inert M4 training rifle with aluminum rails on the receiver
and handguard. This one was from an Eotech program, hence the molded
logo. It has a steel barrel, which actually extends the entire length
of the rifle, into the buffer tube, to add strength, weight and balance
to the training aid.. The M4-FLR can be made with a solid collapsed
or extended stock, or with the collapsible stock (pictured here). The
buffer tube fits commercial stocks, and comes with the M4 stock shown
below. I'd rather it fit mil-spec stocks, but actually had a Vltor IMOD
commercial stock to put on it. The barrel is threaded and will accept
any standard muzzle device. The magazine is not removable. CTA also
offers other common rifles,
like the full length M16-A2, AK-47/74, M14, MP5, UZI etc.

M4-FLR

Flash hider removed

Collapsible M4 stock

Vltor IMOD stock

Like the G17, the M4-FLR is dimensionally correct, but has simplified
details, if you look closely. This does not affect the ability to mount
accessories etc. At 9.44 lbs, the M4-FLR simulates the loaded weight
of an M4.

Accessorized

Notes - Some of CTA's
inert training replicas are molded and painted in more realistic looking
colours, and will pass for real weapons at a glance. Actually, so will
the 'simplified' replicas, if molded in the right colour. With the steel
barrels to provide more realistic weight and balance than plastic-only
or rubber weapons, the replicas provide a more realistic feel for weapons
handling during training. The full length barrel also ensures more strength
and durability. CTA's inert training weapons can be used for physical
demonstrations that would break airsoft rifles in half. People have
been shot with 'empty' weapons during demonstrations. While the user
is always to blame, sometimes others suffer because of it, By using
inert training weapons to demonstrate certain aspects of weapons handling,
safety is ensured, and the chances of a negligent discharge is eliminated.
Other uses include trade shows, displays, movie props etc, where the
ability to mount and display different accessories is needed.

Background - I first
reviewed the Multitasker Tube back in 2010, and the Tube in its'expansion
pack' has been with me on every trip to the range. The new Twist is
an updated version of the Tube with some improvements, and retains the
same compact pen format for portability and light weight. The Tube was
available by itself (Tube tool only), or with an expansion kit which
included a case and additional bits). The Twist is currently only available
by itself with the bits, and no case. The Twist fits into the case for
the Tube, of course.

Some of the main features of Multitasker Twist tool
are:

Compact pen format

CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum with a black, bronze or Crye
MultiCam finish.

Light-duty 5/16" flat blade screwdriver at the end of pocket
clip (made of HD spring steel)

I've shown the Twist alongside the older Tube for comparison here;
to illlustrate the differences if you already have a Tube. The Twist
bronze is a darker coyoteish colour while the Tube bronze is lighter.
The Twist is the approximate length of a standard Sharpie permanent
marker, and just a bit fatter. The center portion has flutes machined
into the body for additional grip. The Twist comes packaged in a small
box with nicely illustrated sleeve.

The front cap on the Twist is a bit shorter than that on the Tube.
The 8/32" male thread, which used to be on the body of the Tube
is now located at the end of the front tube. The body also has three
holes that hold the included tip attachments (dental pick, 3/32"
punch, and radial carbon scraper). The Tube had a bent-tip carbon scraper
without much room for tip storage, so the tips were stored in the case.
The scraper is used for scraping carbon from the tail of the bolt or
from inside the bolt carrier. The 8/32" male thread stud is compatible
with OTIS cleaning kit pull-through cleaning cables, and other cleaning
accessories with the same thread.

Twist vs. Tube

Twist with tip storage

Comes with three tips

Tip attachment

Dental pick attached

Aimpoint adjuster on cap

1/4" hex bits

The rear end cap of the Twist with the pocket clip has an Aimpoint
Micro windage/elevation turret adjuster, instead of the pin punch that
was on the Tube. The rear cap of the Twist is slightly longer than that
of the Tube. The Twist/Tube reminds me of other 'tactical pens' that
double as self-defense weapons/kubotans, for which the Twist can also
be used. Even though it's blunt, the Aimpoint adjuster prongs on the
cap is very effective for poking soft tissue, pressure points or striking
bone.Unscrewing the cap reveals a magnetic 1/4" hex bit holder,
and the included 4-prong A2 sight adjustment tool (which makes an even
more effective striking or poking weapon). The end of the pocket
clip doubles as a light-duty flat blade screwdriver.

The included plastic holder has some of the more commonly used 1/4"
drive bits: 3/32" and 3/16" slotted screwdrivers, PH1 medium
Phillips screwdriver, T10 and T15 (used on most LaRue scope rings) Torx
tips, and five hex wrenches (3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/96",
3/16").

Notes and Observations
- The Multitasker Tube had a permanent place inside one of the pockets
of my EMDOM USA KitMat. It has now
been replaced by the Twist. While they're both the same size, the Twist
is able to store all its 8/32" tips while the Tube isn't. I've
used the Tube on numerous occasions, typically with a screwdriver or
hex bit. The least used feature is the A2 sight adjuster, as once they're
set, I don't mess with them anymore. I do like the Aimpoint adjuster
on the end of the cap as the small Aimpoint caps are fiddly to use for
adjusting the micro.

For those who feel that the original Multitasker was a bit heavy to
carry, there's no excuse to not have something like the Twist in a field
kit. The Twist is currently available from dealers like Brownells
and SKD.